2016–17 Vancouver Canucks season explained

League:NHL
Season:2016–17
Year:2016
Team:Vancouver Canucks
Conference:Western
Conferencerank:13th
Division:Pacific
Divisionrank:7th
Record:30–43–9
Homerecord:18–17–6
Roadrecord:12–26–3
Goalsfor:182
Goalsagainst:243
Generalmanager:Jim Benning
Coach:Willie Desjardins
Captain:Henrik Sedin
Altcaptain:Alex Burrows (Oct.–Feb.)
Alexander Edler (Feb.–Apr.)
Bo Horvat (Feb.–Apr.)
Daniel Sedin
Brandon Sutter (Feb.–Apr.)
Christopher Tanev (Feb.–Apr.)
Arena:Rogers Arena
Attendance:18,509 (97.9%)[1]
Minorleague:Utica Comets (AHL)
Alaska Aces (ECHL)
Goalsleader:Bo Horvat (20)
Assistsleader:Henrik Sedin (36)
Pointsleader:Bo Horvat (52)
Plusminusleader:Christopher Tanev (+3)
Pimleader:Nikita Tryamkin (64)
Winsleader:Ryan Miller (18)
Gaaleader:Jacob Markstrom (2.63)

The 2016–17 Vancouver Canucks season was the 47th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[2] For the third consecutive season, they opened the season with a match against the Calgary Flames.[3] The team finished with the lowest-scoring season in franchise history, scoring just 182 goals.[4] The day after the Canucks' season-ending game, head coach Willie Desjardins was fired, along with assistant coaches Doug Lidster and Perry Pearn.[5] The Canucks overall missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Off-season

The Canucks made their first off-season move while the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs were still in action, sending centre Jared McCann and second and fourth round picks to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenceman Erik Gudbranson and a fifth-round pick.[6] On June 27, two days after the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the Canucks placed winger Chris Higgins on unconditional waivers and subsequently bought out the final year of his contract.[7]

Training camp

Vancouver's 2016 training camp was held in Whistler, British Columbia, on September 22–26, 2016.[8]

Regular season

During the team bye week in February, many Canucks players experienced mumps symptoms, with some being diagnosed with the disease. Compounded with ongoing injuries to other players at the time, the Canucks played their following game with 11 regulars out of the lineup, where they lost to the San Jose Sharks 4–1.[9]

Preceding the 2017 NHL trade deadline, the Canucks traded long-time forward Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for prospect Jonathan Dahlen on February 27, 2017.[10] The following night, they traded another long-time forward, Jannik Hansen, to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional fourth-round pick at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[11]

The Canucks finished their season with 69 points and had the second-best odds for the draft lottery of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

2016–17 game log
Legend:

Detailed records

Western Conference
Central Division
Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed
0–0–1 1–1–0 1–1–1 3 10 12
1–0–0 2–0–0 3–0–0 6 8 6
1–1–0 0–1–0 1–2–0 2 8 10
1–1–0 1–0–0 2–1–0 4 11 12
1–0–0 0–1–1 1–1–1 3 4 6
1–0–0 0–2–0 1–2–0 2 6 9
1–1–0 0–1–0 1–2–0 2 6 7
Total 6–3–1 4–6–1 10–9–2 22 54 62
Pacific Division
Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed
1–2–0 1–1–0 2–3–0 4 9 14
2–0–0 1–2–0 3–2–0 6 13 10
3–0–0 0–2–0 3–2–0 6 9 11
0–2–0 1–2–0 1–4–0 2 6 14
1–1–0 1–0–1 2–1–1 5 9 9
0–3–0 0–2–0 0–5–0 0 5 17
Vancouver Canucks
Total 7–8–0 4–9–1 11–17–1 23 51 75
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed
0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 5 10
1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 6 3
0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 3 6
1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 4 5
0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 1 5
0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 0 4
1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 9 3
1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 5 8
Total 4–2–2 2–6–0 6–8–2 14 34 44
Metropolitan Division
Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed
1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 10 11
0–0–1 1–0–0 1–0–1 3 6 4
0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 3 5
0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 5 8
0–1–0 1–0–0 1–1–0 2 7 10
0–1–0 0–0–1 0–1–1 1 6 7
0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 0 7
0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 2 8
Total 1–4–3 2–5–1 3–9–4 10 39 60

Player statistics

Final stats

Skaters

Regular season[12]
Playerdata-sort-type="number"
81 20 32 52 −7 27
82 15 35 50 −27 28
82 15 29 44 −16 32
68 18 17 35 −6 8
81 17 17 34 −20 12
69 19 13 32 −19 14
65 11 13 24 −9 8
71 3 21 24 −16 25
68 6 15 21 −20 36
55 9 11 20 −3 53
71 5 14 19 −22 31
28 6 7 13 2 27
82 2 11 13 −1 40
53 2 8 10 3 14
55 5 4 9 0 12
68 4 5 9 −12 29
66 2 7 9 −7 64
58 4 4 8 −4 6
27 5 2 7 −7 6
30 1 5 6 −14 18
26 1 5 6 −8 4
9 4 1 5 0 0
57 0 5 5 −2 33
14 1 3 4 −6 33
12 3 0 3 1 0
36 0 3 3 −4 18
14 0 2 2 −3 4
3 0 1 1 1 0
10 0 1 1 1 2
1 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 −1 0
1 0 0 0 −1 0
3 0 0 0 −1 0
5 0 0 0 −2 0
10 0 0 0 −1 9
13 0 0 0 −2 21
Totals 82 178 292 470 −233 638

Goaltenders

Regular season[13]
Player
style=white-space:nowrap 26 23 1416:58 10 11 3 62 2.63 692 .910 0 0 0 2
style=white-space:nowrap 54 54 3211:51 18 29 6 150 2.80 1737 .914 3 0 1 22
style=white-space:nowrap 5 5 295:11 2 3 0 13 2.64 162 .920 0 0 0 0
Totals 82 4924:59 30 43 9 225 2.74 2,591 0.913 3 0 1 24
Acquired by Canucks mid-season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only.
Acquired by another team mid-season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only.

Awards and honours

Milestones

Regular season
PlayerMilestoneDate
1st career NHL assist
100th career NHL goal
300th career NHL game
1st career NHL game
200th career NHL point
1st career NHL assist
1st career NHL point
1st career NHL goal
400th career NHL game
1st career NHL game
100th career NHL game
100th career NHL game
100th career NHL assist
300th career NHL assist
1200th career NHL game
1st career NHL game
800th career NHL game
1st career NHL assist
1st career NHL point
600th career NHL assist
1,000th career NHL point
200th career NHL game
100th career NHL game
100th career NHL point
1,200th career NHL game
1st career NHL game
100th career NHL game
700th career NHL game
100th career NHL game
200th career NHL game
1st career NHL game
1st career NHL goal
1st career NHL point
1st career NHL game
1st career NHL assist
700th career NHL start
300th career NHL point

Transactions

The Canucks been involved in the following transactions:

Trades

DateDetailsRef
To Vancouver Canucks:
Erik Gudbranson
NYI's 5th-round pick in 2016
To Florida Panthers:
Jared McCann
2nd-round pick in 2016
4th-round pick in 2016
To Vancouver Canucks:
Jonathan Dahlen
To Ottawa Senators:
Alex Burrows
To Vancouver Canucks:
Nikolay Goldobin
Conditional 4th-round pick in 2017
To San Jose Sharks:
Jannik Hansen

Free agents acquired

PlayerDateFormer teamContract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
2-year, $925,000 entry-level contract [15]
1 year, $925,000 entry-level contract [16]
3-year, $836,667 entry-level contract [17]
6-year, $36 million [18]
1 year, $600,000 [19]
1 year, $600,000 [20]
1 year, $575,000
Linkopings HC (SHL) 1 year, $600,000
3-year, $675,000 entry-level contract [21]
1 year, $700,000 [22]
3-year, $847,500 entry-level contract [23]
1 year, $600,000 [24]
3-year, $765,000 entry-level contract [25]
2-year, $925,000 entry-level contract [26]
1 year, $925,000 entry-level [27]

Free agents lost

PlayerDateNew teamContract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
2 years, $7.5 million [28]
1 year, $575,000 [29]
1 year, $700,000 [30]
1 year, $1 million [31]
Professional Tryout (PTO) [32]
Professional Tryout (PTO) [33]
Professional Tryout (PTO) [34]

Claimed via waivers

PlayerPrevious teamDateRef
January 4, 2017 [35]
March 1, 2017 [36]

Player signings

PlayerDateContract terms
(in U.S. dollars)
Ref
1 year, $950,000 [38]
3-year, $925,000 entry-level contract [39]
2 years, $3.7 million [40]
1 year, $775,000 [41]
1 year, $1.025 million [42]
3-year, $11 million contract extension [43]
3-year, $925,000 entry-level contract [44]
2-year, $5.6 million contract extension [45]
3-year, $925,000 entry-level contract [46]
1 year, $675,000 contract extension [47]
3 years, $2.775 million entry-level [48]
1 year, $750,000 contract extension [49]
1 year, $3.5 million contract extension [50]

Draft picks

See also: List of Vancouver Canucks draft picks. Below are the Vancouver Canucks' selections at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, to be held on June 24–25, 2016, at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York.

RoundPlayerPosNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
15Olli JuoleviDLondon Knights (OHL)
364William LockwoodRWU.S. NTDP (USHL)
5140Cole CandellaDHamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
6154Jakob StukelLWCalgary Hitmen (WHL)
7184Rodrigo AbolsCPortland Winterhawks (WHL)
7194Brett McKenzieCNorth Bay Battalion (OHL)
Draft notes[51]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NHL Attendance Report - 2016-17. ESPN. October 18, 2017.
  2. Book: National Hockey League. The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. 2013. Diamond Sports Data, Inc.. 129. 978-1-894801-26-3.
  3. Web site: Canucks announce 2016–17 schedule. nhl.com. June 21, 2016.
  4. News: Kuzma. Ben. Desjardins becomes fall guy for everything wrong with Canucks. The Province. 10 April 2017.
  5. Web site: Media Relations. Canucks. Canucks relieve Willie Desjardins of duties. NHL. 10 April 2017.
  6. Web site: Panthers trade Gudbranson to Canucks for McCann. nhl.com. June 6, 2016.
  7. Web site: Canucks confirm buyout of Higgins' contract. nhl.com. June 29, 2016.
  8. Web site: Canucks announce training camp in Whistler. canucks.com. July 7, 2016. September 16, 2016.
  9. Web site: Canucks report mumps diagnosis. Vancouver Canucks. February 24, 2017. March 1, 2017.
  10. Web site: Canucks acquire Jonathan Dahlen from Senators. nhl.com. February 27, 2017. February 27, 2017.
  11. Web site: Canucks Acquire Goldobin & Conditional 4th Round Pick. nhl.com. February 28, 2017. February 28, 2017.
  12. Web site: 2016–2017 – Regular Season – Vancouver Canucks – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
  13. Web site: 2016–2017 – Regular Season – Vancouver Canucks – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
  14. Web site: Bo Horvat selected to play in 2017 All Star Game. NHL. January 10, 2017.
  15. Web site: Canucks sign defenceman Troy Stecher . Vancouver Canucks . April 13, 2016 . October 23, 2016.
  16. Web site: Canucks sign goaltender Michael Garteig . Vancouver Canucks . April 29, 2016 . October 23, 2016.
  17. Web site: Canucks sign Yan-Pavel Laplante . Vancouver Canucks . May 16, 2016 . October 23, 2016.
  18. Web site: Canucks enter the Eriksson years, signing top free agent to a six-year, $36-million deal. Botchford, Jason. July 1, 2016. July 6, 2016.
  19. Web site: Canucks sign Jayson Megna to one-year deal. Vancouver Canucks. July 1, 2016. July 6, 2016.
  20. Web site: Canucks sign Chaput, Rendulic & Billins. Vancouver Canucks. July 1, 2016. October 23, 2016.
  21. Web site: Canucks sign forward Michael Carcone. Vancouver Canucks. July 15, 2016. October 23, 2016.
  22. Web site: Canucks Sign Jack Skille to One-Year Contract. Vancouver Canucks. October 13, 2016. October 14, 2016.
  23. Web site: Canucks Sign Forward Zack MacEwen to Three Year ELC. canucks.com. March 3, 2017. May 28, 2017.
  24. Web site: Canucks sign forward Drew Shore. canucks.com. March 12, 2017. April 12, 2017.
  25. Web site: CJalen Chatfield signed to three-year contract. canucks.com. March 13, 2017. May 28, 2017.
  26. Web site: Canucks sign forward Griffen Molino. canucks.com. March 28, 2017. April 12, 2017.
  27. Web site: Canucks sign defenceman Philip Holm to entry-level deal. Sportsnet.ca. June 2, 2017.
  28. Web site: Dallas Stars Sign Defenseman Dan Hamhuis. nhl.com. July 1, 2016. July 6, 2016.
  29. Web site: Yannick Weber Signs with Nashville Predators. The Hockey Writers. July 1, 2016. July 6, 2016.
  30. News: Linden Vey signs with the Flames. The Province. July 5, 2016. September 9, 2016.
  31. Web site: Radim Vrbata signs one-year deal with Arizona Coyotes. sportsnet.ca. Kailey Sibley. August 16, 2016. September 9, 2016.
  32. Web site: Maple Leafs invite Brandon Prust to training camp on professional tryout. cbc.ca. August 22, 2016. September 9, 2016.
  33. Web site: Former Canucks forward Chris Higgins signs PTO with Flames. sportsnet.ca. August 30, 2016. September 9, 2016.
  34. Web site: Senators sign defenceman Matt Bartkowski to a professional tryout. ottawacitizen.com. September 16, 2016. September 16, 2016.
  35. Web site: Canucks claim Reid Boucher. Vancouver Canucks. January 4, 2017. January 13, 2017.
  36. Web site: Canucks claim Joseph Cramarossa off waivers. Vancouver Canucks. March 1, 2017. March 1, 2017.
  37. Web site: Ducks Claim Etem off NHL Waivers. Anaheim Ducks. October 13, 2016. October 14, 2016.
  38. Web site: Canucks sign Anton Rodin. canucks.nhl.com. March 22, 2016. October 23, 2016.
  39. Web site: Canucks sign Thatcher Demko . Vancouver Canucks . April 20, 2016 . October 23, 2016.
  40. Web site: Canucks sign Baertschi to two-year extension. nhl.com. June 16, 2016.
  41. Web site: Canucks sign Etem to one-year contract. nhl.com. June 28, 2016.
  42. Web site: Canucks sign Philip Larsen to one-year deal. nhl.com. July 1, 2016. July 4, 2016.
  43. Web site: Canucks sign Markstrom to three-year extension. canucks.com. July 7, 2016. March 1, 2017.
  44. Web site: Olli Juolevi signs entry-level contract with Canucks. canucks.com. August 5, 2016. September 21, 2016.
  45. Web site: Canucks sign Hutton to Two-Year Contract Extension. canucks.com. November 24, 2016. March 1, 2017.
  46. Web site: Canucks sign Brock Boeser. canucks.com. March 25, 2017. April 12, 2017.
  47. Web site: Jayson Megna signed to one-year extension. canucks.com. April 2, 2017. April 12, 2017.
  48. Web site: Dahlen signed to three-year contract. nhl.com. June 3, 2017.
  49. Web site: Vancouver Canucks re-sign defenceman Andrey Pedan. Sportsnet.ca. June 3, 2017.
  50. Web site: Canucks sign Erik Gudbranson to contract extension. nhl.com. June 16, 2017.
  51. Web site: 2015 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions. Pro Sports Transactions. June 3, 2015.
  52. Web site: Prust to Canucks for Kassian & 5th round pick. nhl.com. July 1, 2015. July 17, 2015.
  53. Web site: Canucks acquire two draft picks from Hurricanes. nhl.com. June 27, 2015. July 17, 2015.